U.S. patent application number 13/903040 was filed with the patent office on 2013-11-28 for connector.
This patent application is currently assigned to Autonetworks Technologies, LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Autonetworks Technologies, LTD., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Katsuhiko Aizawa, Kiyotaka Itsuki, Tomokazu Kashiwada, Hiroyuki Matsuoka, Kensaku Takata, Yoshitomo Tsujii, Masafumi Uno.
Application Number | 20130316573 13/903040 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47720273 |
Filed Date | 2013-11-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130316573 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Uno; Masafumi ; et
al. |
November 28, 2013 |
CONNECTOR
Abstract
A connector (10) to be mounted on end portions of wires (16)
includes first terminals (19) connected to the end portions of the
wires (16), second terminals (23) electrically connected to the
first terminals (19) via flexible conductive members (29) and
connected to terminals of a mating connector (CN), and a housing
(33) for accommodating the first terminals (19) and the second
terminals (23).
Inventors: |
Uno; Masafumi;
(Yokkaichi-City, JP) ; Tsujii; Yoshitomo;
(Yokkaichi-City, JP) ; Aizawa; Katsuhiko;
(Yokkaichi-City, JP) ; Takata; Kensaku;
(Yokkaichi-City, JP) ; Matsuoka; Hiroyuki;
(Yokkaichi-City, JP) ; Kashiwada; Tomokazu;
(Yokkaichi-City, JP) ; Itsuki; Kiyotaka;
(Yokkaichi-City, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Autonetworks Technologies, LTD.
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. |
Yokkaichi-City
Osaka
Yokkaichi-City |
|
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Autonetworks Technologies,
LTD.
Yokkaichi-City
JP
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
Osaka
JP
Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
Yokkaichi-City
JP
|
Family ID: |
47720273 |
Appl. No.: |
13/903040 |
Filed: |
May 28, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/573 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/6581 20130101;
H01R 13/533 20130101; H01R 13/6315 20130101; H01R 9/03 20130101;
H01R 13/60 20130101; H01R 11/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/573 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/60 20060101
H01R013/60 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 28, 2012 |
JP |
2012-120421 |
Jul 4, 2012 |
JP |
2012-150662 |
Claims
1. A connector (10) mountable on a wire (16), comprising: at least
one first terminal (19) connected to the wire (16); at least one
second terminal (23) electrically connected to the first terminal
(19) via a flexible conductive member (29) and to be connected to a
terminal of a mating connector (CN); and a housing (33) for at
least partly accommodating the first terminal (19) and the second
terminal (23).
2. The connector of claim 1, wherein: the flexible conductive
member (29) has first and second ends, the second end of the
flexible conductive member (29) being connected to the second
terminal (23), the connector (10) further having an intermediate
terminal (30) connected to the first end of the flexible conductive
member (29) and to the first terminal (19).
3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the intermediate terminal (30)
and the first terminal (19) are fixed to the housing (33).
4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the first terminal (19) and
the intermediate terminal (30) each are formed with a screw hole
(20A, 31A) and fixed to the housing (33) by inserting a common
screw (82) through the screw holes (20A, 31A) and screwing the
common screw (82) into the housing (33).
5. The connector according of claim 1, further comprising a shield
shell (73) covering the housing (33), the shield shell (73) being
fixed to a case of a device and being screwed and fixed to the
housing (33).
6. The connector of claim 5, wherein the shield shell (73) includes
a first shell (74) for at least partly covering a specified range
of the housing (33) and a second shell (78) for at least partly
covering a part of the housing (33) not covered by the first shell
(74).
7. The connector of claim 6, wherein the first shell (73) and the
second shell (78) are each formed with a screw hole (76A, 81A) and
fixed to the housing (33) by inserting a common screw (83) through
the respective screw holes (76A, 81A).
8. A connector (10) for connecting at least one wire (16) to a
mating connector (CN) in a device, comprising: a housing (33)
having at least one first terminal accommodating chamber (49), at
least one second terminal accommodating chamber (37) and a coupling
(60) between the first and second terminal accommodating chambers
(49, 37); at least one first terminal (19) having a wire connecting
portion (21) connected to the wire (16) and mounted in the first
terminal accommodating chamber (49), the first terminal (19)
further having a fixing portion (20) unitary with the wire
connecting portion (21) and extending into the coupling (60) of the
housing (33); at least one second terminal (23) mounted in the
second terminal accommodating chamber (49) and configured for
connection to a terminal in the mating connector (CN); an
intermediate terminal (30) connected to the fixing portion (20) of
the first terminal (19); and a flexible conductive member (29)
having a first end connected to the intermediate terminal (30) and
a second end connected to the second terminal (23), wherein the
flexible conductive member (29) isolates the second terminal (23)
from vibrations in the wire (16).
9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the intermediate terminal (30)
and the first terminal (19) are fixed to the housing (33).
10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the first terminal (19) and
the intermediate terminal (30) each are formed with a screw hole
(20A, 31A) and fixed to the housing (33) by inserting a common
screw (82) through the screw holes (20A, 31A) and screwing the
common screw (82) into the housing (33).
11. The connector of claim 8, wherein the flexible conductive
member (29) comprises a braided wire.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a connector.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-277217
discloses a connector that is intended to prevent a problem in
connecting connectors due to a dimensional accuracy error or the
like. This connector is configured so that a connector main body
pivots according to the position of a mating connector by the
deflection of a leaf spring of a spring washer arranged between the
connector main body and a bottom plate when the mating connector is
inserted.
[0005] The connector of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
2000-277217 has a connector main body and a wire is mounted in the
connector main body. If the wire vibrates, the connector main body
in which the wire is mounted vibrates, and the vibration may cause
a problem with the connection to the mating connector.
[0006] The present invention was completed in view of the above
situation and an object thereof is to prevent a problem with
connection to a mating connector due the vibration of a wire or the
like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention relates to a connector mountable on a wire.
The connector has at least one first terminal connected to the
wire, at least one second terminal electrically connected to the
first terminal via a flexible conductive member and to be connected
to a terminal of a mating connector and a housing for accommodating
the first and second terminals.
[0008] According to this configuration, influences due to the
vibration of the wire and the like can be absorbed by the flexible
conductive member connecting the first terminal and the second
terminal. The flexible conductive member effectively prevents
vibrations of the first terminal from affecting the connection of
the second terminal to the terminal of the mating connector.
[0009] The flexible conductive member also can prevent abrasion by
expanding and contracting like a suspension when contact points of
the first and second terminals slide against each other to be
abraded due to a difference in linear expansion coefficient between
resin and metal. Further, if it is tried to forcibly connect the
first and second terminals when the second terminal is twisted with
respect to a proper posture, the first terminal may be held in
contact with the second terminal only on one side without being
able to follow the twisted posture of the second terminal. Also in
such a case, the flexible conductive member absorbs the torsion of
the second terminal to allow the first and second terminals to be
held in contact over a predetermined area, whereby a contact area
between the contact points of the first and second terminals can be
ensured.
[0010] One end of the flexible conductive member preferably is
connected to the second terminal, and an intermediate terminal may
be connected to the other end of the flexible conductive member.
Furthermore, the first terminal and the intermediate terminal
preferably are fixed to the housing. Thus, influences due to
vibration and the like in parts fixed to the housing and can be cut
off and more reliably prevent the occurrence of a problem with
connection to the mating connector due to vibration of the wire and
the like.
[0011] The first terminal and the intermediate terminal may be
formed with screw holes and fixed to the housing by inserting a
common screw through the screw holes and screwing the common screw
into the housing. This can simplify the configuration, for example,
as compared with the case where the first terminal and the
intermediate terminal are individually screwed to the housing.
[0012] The housing preferably is covered at least partly by a
shield shell, and the shield shell is fixed to a case of a device.
Further particularly, the shield shell preferably is screwed and
fixed to the housing to fix the position of the housing via the
shield shell.
[0013] The shield shell preferably includes a first shell for at
least partly covering a predetermined range of the housing and a
second shell for at least partly covering a part of the housing not
covered by the first shell. Further, the first and second shells
each may be formed with a screw hole and fixed to the housing by
inserting a common screw through the respective screw holes. This
can simplify the configuration as compared with the case where the
first and second shells are individually screwed to the
housing.
[0014] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the
following detailed description of preferred embodiments and
accompanying drawings. It should be understood that even though
embodiments are separately described, single features thereof may
be combined to additional embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where a
connector according to one embodiment is mounted to a mounting
portion.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the state where the
connector is mounted to the mounting portion when viewed from
behind.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a section showing the state where the connector is
mounted to the mounting portion.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the mounting portion
and the connector.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the connector.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a front view showing the connector.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a side view showing the connector.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a rear view showing the connector.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing the connector.
[0024] FIG. 10 is a section along A-A of FIG. 5.
[0025] FIG. 11 is a section along B-B of FIG. 7.
[0026] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the
connector.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] A connector in accordance with the invention is identified
by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 1 to 12. The connector 10 is to be
mounted to a shield case 11 of a device (e.g. an inverter, a motor
or the like of a vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric
vehicle). In the following description, a vertical direction is
based on FIG. 3 and left side (connecting direction CD to a mating
connector) and right side of FIG. 3 are respectively referred to as
front side and rear side.
[0028] The device has a device main body (not shown) to be housed
in the shield case 11 made of an electrically conductive material.
The left side of the shield case 11 in FIG. 3 is an inner side of
the shield case 11. The shield case 11 includes a mounting portion
12 to which the connector 10 is to be mounted. Note that only a
part of the shield case 11 of the device is shown and other parts
are not shown.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting portion 12 includes a wide
substantially elliptical through hole 13 and left and right
internally threaded mounting holes 14 in the upper end of the
shield case 11. The connector 10 is to be fixed to the mounting
portion 12 by inserting and screwing shafts of male mounting screws
84 into respective mounting holes 80A, 14 with the mounting holes
80A of the connector 10 substantially placed on the mounting holes
14.
[0030] A mating connector CN (see FIG. 3) is arranged at a position
substantially facing the connector 10 inside the shield case
11.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 12, the connector 10 includes
terminal-mounted wires 15 each having a first terminal 19 connected
to an end portion of a wire 16, a connecting member 22 to be
connected to the first terminals 19 and terminals (not shown) of
the mating connector CN, a housing 33 for housing the first
terminals 19 and the connecting member 22 and a shield shell 73 for
at least partly covering the housing 33.
[0032] The terminal-mounted wire 15 includes the wire 16 and the
first terminal 19 mounted on the end of the wire 16.
[0033] The wire 16 has a conductor made of thin metal wires covered
by an insulation coating. The insulation coating is stripped to
expose the conductor at the end of the wire 16.
[0034] The first terminal 19 is a round terminal with a
substantially ring-shaped fixing portion 20 to be fixed to the
housing 33 and a wire connecting portion 21 unitary with the fixing
portion 20 and configured to be connected to the conductor of the
wire 16.
[0035] A screw hole 20A penetrates through the fixing portion
20.
[0036] The wire connecting portion 21 includes a wire barrel with
two crimping pieces to be crimped and connected to the conductor
exposed at the end portion of the wire 16 and an insulation barrel
with two crimping pieces to be crimped and connected to a part of
the insulation coating of the wire 16. Note that the connection of
the wire 16 and the first terminal 19 is not limited to crimp
connection, but various known connection methods such as welding,
soldering, insulation displacement or the like can be adopted.
[0037] The connecting member 22 includes two second terminals 23 to
be connected to the terminals of the mating connector CN, two
flexible conductive members 29 having first ends connected to two
intermediate terminals 30 and second ends connected to the second
terminals 23.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 11, the second terminal 23 includes a
terminal connecting portion 24 to be connected to the terminal of
the mating connector CN and a link 28 unitarily connected to the
terminal connecting portion 24 and connectable to the second end of
the flexible conductive member 29.
[0039] The terminal connecting portion 24 includes two resilient
contact pieces 26 inside a rectangular tube. The resilient contact
pieces 26 are folded back at the leading end of the tube to extend
backward.
[0040] The tube is cut or recessed to form a lance locking portion
27 with which a locking lance 42 is engageable.
[0041] The link 28 is a closed barrel that at least partly
surrounds the second end of the flexible conductive member 29, and
is crimped and squeezed from an outer side to fix the flexible
conductive member 29 while the second end of the flexible
conductive member 29 is inserted inside.
[0042] The flexible conductive member 29 comprises a flexible
conductor and a braided wire that may be formed by braiding thin
metal wires of aluminum or aluminum alloy into a mesh. It is also
possible to use thin metal wires of copper or copper alloy or other
flexible metals besides aluminum or other flexible conductive
members, such as a twisted wire and/or a copper foil besides the
braided wire.
[0043] The intermediate terminal 30 is a substantially round
terminal and includes a fixing portion 31 and a link 32. The fixing
portion 31 is to be connected to the first terminal 19 and fixed to
the housing 33. The link 32 is connected at an angle to the fixing
portion 31 and includes two crimping pieces 32A to be crimped and
connected to the first end of the flexible conductive member
29.
[0044] A base end of the fixing portion 31 is bent to extend
substantially perpendicular to an extending direction of the link
32 and a screw hole 31A penetrates through the fixing portion 31
for receiving a shaft of a screw 82.
[0045] The screw 82 is a male screw (bolt) with a hexagonal head
and a threaded shaft that is to be screwed into a fastening portion
62 of the housing 33 through the respective screw holes 20A, 31A of
the first terminal 19 and the intermediate terminal 30.
[0046] The flexible conductive member 29 is crimped and connected
to the second terminal 23 and the intermediate terminal 30 in this
embodiment. However, the flexible conductive member 29 may be
connected to the second terminal 23 and the intermediate terminal
30 by various known connection means such as brazing, soldering or
welding.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 12, the housing 33 has an L-shape and
includes a first tube 47 in which the first terminals 19 are to be
accommodated, a second tube 56 that substantially extends
substantially perpendicular to the first tube 47 and in which the
connecting member 22 is to be accommodated, and a coupling 60 that
couples the first and second tubes 47, 56.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 11, the first tube 47 includes left and
right first terminal accommodating chambers 49.
[0049] A cavity 50 of a substantially circular cross-section
penetrates each first terminal accommodating chamber 49 in the
vertical direction, and a partition wall 48 partitions the first
terminal accommodating chambers 49 at a laterally central part.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 12, a resilient member, such as a rubber
ring 51, is arranged on the inner peripheral surface of each first
terminal accommodating chamber 49 and is to be held in close
contact with the outer periphery of the wire 16.
[0051] A retainer 52 is mounted below the rubber ring 51 to prevent
displacement of the rubber ring 51. The retainer 52 is formed by
fitting a plurality of divided members 52A, 52A. Retaining portions
53 project on the outer periphery of the retainer 52 engage the
inner wall of the respective first terminal accommodating chambers
49 for retaining the rubber rings 51.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 10, a shell fixing portion 54 is provided
on the rear surface of the first tube 47 for fixing the shield
shell 73. The shell fixing portion 54 has a substantially flat
surface on which fastening pieces 76, 81 of the shield shell 73 can
be placed and is formed with a fastening portion 55 including a
screw hole 55A at the position of screw holes 76A, 81A of the
shield shell 73.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 11, the second tube 56 includes an
accommodating portion 35 for accommodating the second terminals 23.
The accommodating portion 35 has a wide substantially elliptical
outer periphery and a cross-sectionally smaller front is connected
to a rear end via at least one step and projects forward.
[0054] Left and right second terminal accommodating chambers 37 are
formed inside the accommodating portion 35 and are partitioned by a
partition wall 38 at a substantially a central part. A cavity 39
penetrates through each second terminal accommodating chamber 37 in
forward and backward directions.
[0055] A front stop wall 40 projects from the inner wall of the
cavity 39 to restrict a forward movement of the second terminal 23.
Terminal insertion holes 41 penetrate through the front stop wall
40 at the front end of the cavity 39 and are configured to receive
vertically aligned plates of the male terminals of the mating
connector CN.
[0056] The locking lance 42 cantilevers forward from the inner wall
of the cavity 39. A locking projection 43 is provided on the
locking lance 42 for engaging the lance locking portion 27 of the
second terminal 23.
[0057] The second tube 56 includes an opening 56B on the rear end
and the outer periphery thereof is recessed annularly to form a
mounting groove 59 for receiving a seal ring 85.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 10, the coupling 60 includes left and right
terminal fixing portions 61 for fixing the first terminal 19 and
the intermediate terminal 30 to the housing 33. Each terminal
fitting portion 61 has a substantially flat surface for receiving
the downwardly bent fixing portion 31 on the intermediate terminal
30, and the fixing portion 20 of the first terminal 19 is placed on
the rear side of the fixing portion 31.
[0059] The terminal connecting portion 61 is formed with a
fastening portion 62 that includes a screw hole at the position of
the screw holes 20A, 31A of the first terminal 19 and the
intermediate terminal 30 and can be threadably engaged with and
fastened to the shaft of the screw 82.
[0060] A cover mounting portion 67 is formed on a rear end of the
second tube 56 and a protection cover 69 is mountable thereon. As
shown in FIG. 11, a cover locking projection 68 is formed on the
outer surface of the cover mounting portion 67. The front end of
the cover locking projection 68 projects from the outer surface of
the second tube 56 to form a step, and a rear side thereof inclines
in toward the back.
[0061] The protection cover 69 has a wide elliptical shape and is
formed with an annular portion 70 on the peripheral edge of a
substantially elliptical plate for at least partly closing the
opening 56B on the rear end of the second tube 56. The inside of
the annular portion 70 is reinforced by a lattice-shaped
reinforcement.
[0062] A resilient member, such as a rubber ring 72, is mounted on
the outer periphery of the annular portion 70.
[0063] A locking frame 71 projecting forward is formed unitarily on
an outer side of the annular portion 70. The locking frame 71 is
formed with a substantially rectangular locking hole 71A on its
inner side, and the cover locking projection 68 is to be engaged
with the edge of the locking hole 71A.
[0064] The shield shell 73 is made of a conductive metal, such as
aluminum or aluminum alloy and includes first and second shells 74
and 78. The first shell 74 covers a lower side of the housing 33
and the second shell 78 covers an upper side of the housing 33, as
shown in FIG. 12.
[0065] The first shell 74 includes a tubular portion 75 with a wide
elliptical cross-section and a first fastening piece 76 extends out
or up from the rear surface of the tubular portion 75. A
substantially round screw hole 76A penetrates a substantially a
central part of the first fastening piece 76.
[0066] The second shell 78 includes a shielding portion 79 with a
recessed shape substantially in conformity with the rear surface
shape of the housing 33. A mount portion 80 is formed at the outer
or upper surface of the shielding portion 79 and is to be mounted
to the mounting portion 12 of the shield case 11. A second
fastening piece 81 projects down from the rear end surface of the
shielding portion 79. The mount portion 80 is formed with left and
right round mounting holes 80A.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 10, the second fastening piece 81 is
substantially a strip extending down and out from the shielding
portion 79 and the substantially round screw hole 81A penetrates
therethrough. The second fastening piece 81 is fixed to the housing
33 in a state where the first and second shells 74, 78 are
electrically connected by inserting the shaft of the screw 83
through the screw hole 81A and screwing it into the fastening
portion 55. Further, since the shield shell 73 is to be fixed to
the mounting portion 12 of the shield case 11, the housing 33 is
fixed to the shield case 11 and the positions of the first
terminals 19 and the intermediate terminals 30 fixed to the housing
33 are also fixed with respect to the shield case 11.
[0068] The connector is assembled by initially inserting two wires
16 through the rubber rings 51 and the first shell 74. The first
terminals 19 then are crimped and connected to the ends of the
respective wires 16 to form the terminal-mounted wires 15.
[0069] The second terminals 23 are crimped to the second ends of
the flexible conductive members 29 and the intermediate terminals
30 are crimped and connected to the first ends to form the
connecting member 22 (see FIG. 12).
[0070] The second terminals 23 of the connecting member 22 then are
inserted into the respective cavities 39 of the housing 33 and
cause the locking lances 42 to deform. However, the locking lances
42 restore and engage the lance locking portions 27 when the second
terminals 23 are inserted to proper positions in the cavities 39 so
that the second terminals 23 are positioned and retained.
[0071] The fixing portions 31 of the intermediate terminals 30 then
are placed on the terminal fitting portions 61 of the housing 33.
Subsequently, the fixing portions 20 of the first terminals 19 are
placed on the fixing portions 31 of the intermediate terminals 30
that had been placed on the terminal fitting portions 61 of the
housing 33.
[0072] The rubber rings 51 are fit into through openings 47A on the
lower end of the first tube 47 and the retainer 52 is mounted on
the outer side of the rubber rings 51 to hold the rubber rings
51.
[0073] The screws 82 are inserted through the respective screw
holes 20A, 31A of the first terminals 19 and the intermediate
terminals 30 and screwed into the fastening portions 62 of the
housing 33, thereby fixing the first terminals 19 and the
intermediate terminals 30 to the housing 33 (see FIG. 11).
[0074] The protection cover 69 then is mounted to the cover
mounting portion 67, and the locking frame 71 is engaged with the
cover locking projection 68 to close the opening 56B of the second
tube 56.
[0075] The first shell 74, through which the wires 16 already are
passed, then is mounted externally on the first tube 47 of the
housing 33. The second shell 78 then is mounted to the housing 33
from behind so that the respective fastening pieces 76, 81 overlap
each other.
[0076] The screw 83 is inserted through the screw holes 76A, 80A of
the fastening pieces 76, 81 and screwed into the fastening portion
55 of the housing 33 to fix the shield shell 73 to the housing
33.
[0077] The flexible conductive members 29 connect the first and
second terminals 19 and 23 and absorb influences of vibration of
the wires 16. As a result, the second terminals 23 connected to the
terminals of the mating connector CN are unaffected by vibrations
from the first terminals 19 and the wires 16. This can prevent
problems with connection to the mating connector due to the
vibration of the wires 16.
[0078] The flexible conductive members 29 also can prevent abrasion
by expanding and contracting like a suspension when contact points
of the first and second terminals slide against each other and
abrade due to a difference in linear expansion coefficient between
resin and metal. An attempt could be made to forcibly connect the
first and second terminals when the second terminal is twisted with
respect to a proper posture. However, the first terminal is held in
contact with the second terminal only on one side without following
the twisted posture of the second terminal. The flexible conductive
member 29 also absorbs torsion of the second terminal to allow the
first and second terminals to be held in contact over a
predetermined area. Thus, a contact area between the contact points
of the first and second terminals 19 and 23 is ensured.
[0079] The second end of the flexible conductive member 29 is
connected to the second terminal 23, the intermediate terminal 30
is connected to the first end of the flexible conductive member 29
and the first terminal 19, and the intermediate terminal 30 and the
first terminal 19 are fixed to the housing 33. Thus, influences due
to vibration in parts fixed to the housing 33 are cut off and
vibration of the wire 16 will not cause problems with connection to
the second terminal 23 even though the first terminal 19 and the
intermediate terminal 30 are fixed to the housing 33.
[0080] The first terminal 19 and the intermediate terminal 30 have
the screw holes 20A, 31A and can be fixed to the housing 33 by
inserting the common screw 82 through the screw holes 20A, 31A and
screwing the common screw 82 into the housing 33. This can simplify
the configuration, for example, as compared with the case where the
first terminal 19 and the intermediate terminal 30 are screwed
individually to the housing 33.
[0081] The housing 33 is covered at least partly by the shield
shell 73, and the shield shell 73 is fixed to the shield case 11 of
the device and screwed to the housing 33 thereby fixing the
position of the housing 33 via the shield shell 73.
[0082] The shield shell 73 has the first shell 74 covering a
predetermined range of the housing 33 and the second shell 78
covering a part of the housing 33 not covered by the first shell
74. The first and second shells 74 and 78 are formed with the screw
holes 76A, 81A and fixed to the housing 33 by inserting the common
screw through the screw holes 76A, 81A. This simplifies the
configuration as compared with the case where the first shell 74
and the second shell 78 are screwed individually to the housing
33.
[0083] The invention is not limited to the above described and
illustrated embodiment. For example, the following embodiments also
are included in the scope of the invention as defined in the
claims.
[0084] The first terminals 19 and the intermediate terminals 30 are
fixed to the housing 33 by the screws 82 in the above embodiment.
However, there is no limitation to this and the first terminals 19
and the intermediate terminals 30 need not be fixed by the screws
82. For example, the first terminals 19 and the intermediate
terminals 30 may be fixed within a predetermined range by locking
lances or the like. Even if the first terminals 19 and the
intermediate terminals 30 are not strictly fixed in this way, the
disposition of the flexible conductive members 29 between the first
terminals 19 and the second terminals 23 ensure that the second
terminals 23 connected to the terminals of the mating connector CN
are unaffected by the vibration of the wires 16 and the like.
[0085] The shapes of the first terminals 19, the second terminals
23 and the intermediate terminals 30 are not limited to those of
the above embodiment and terminals having other known shapes can be
used.
[0086] The shield shell 73 is composed of the first and second
shells 74 and 78. However, the rear of the housing 33 may be
covered by a unitary shield shell.
[0087] More or fewer than two wires 16 may be provided.
[0088] The first terminal 19 and the intermediate terminal 30 are
fastened by one screw 82 in the above embodiment. However, the
first terminal 19 and the intermediate terminal 30 may be screwed
to the housing 33 by different screws. Further, the first shell 74
and the second shell 78 may be screwed to the housing 33 by
different screws.
[0089] The connector 10 is on an end of a wire mounted to a
device-side connector provided in a device, such as an inverter or
a motor of a vehicle. However, the connector 10 may be on an end of
a wire mounted to a device other than inverters and motors.
[0090] The connector 10 is mounted in the shield case 11 in the
above embodiment. However, the connector 10 may be mounted in a
case having no shielding function.
[0091] The screws 82, 83 are screwed directly into the fastening
portions 62, 55 of the housing 33 in the above embodiment. However,
nuts may be embedded and fixed in the housing and the terminals 19,
30 and the shells 74, 78 may be fixed to the housing 33 by
tightening bolts into the nuts fixed in the housing.
* * * * *